SBA Lead Underwriter

Accountabilities:

• • Review, analyze, and make credit decisions or recommendations for complex SBA loan applications, with a focus on new-money transactions and new borrowers.
  • Partner with relationship managers on initial deal reviews, financial modeling, transaction structuring, and pre-clearance with credit, structured finance, capital markets, syndications, and other stakeholders.
  • Work with relationship managers, prospective customers, and third-party providers to obtain and evaluate required due diligence information.
  • Analyze available financial, operational, and credit information to prepare comprehensive credit approval documentation and change-in-terms requests.
  • Coordinate with relationship management and credit teams to obtain appropriate credit approvals while maintaining adherence to established risk parameters.
  • Develop training materials, educational guidelines, and best practices to strengthen SBA lending capabilities across the organization.
  • Oversee compliance with SBA credit and eligibility requirements, government regulations, applicable Standard Operating Procedures, and SBA guaranty requirements.
  • Maintain current knowledge of SBA products, services, program updates, and regulatory changes, and communicate relevant developments to business banking and market leadership.
  • Engage legal counsel as needed and support negotiation and completion of legal documentation in partnership with relationship management.
  • Coordinate closing, funding, and loan booking activities with funding and credit/collateral operations teams.
  • Complete internal and external post-closing requirements and ensure outstanding items are properly resolved.
  • Underwrite and manage amendments, restructurings, and other changes to existing transactions.
  • Contribute to special projects and strategic assignments related to SBA lending and credit operations.
  • Provide leadership, coaching, and supervision to junior underwriters, credit analysts, and/or leadership program participants when assigned.

  Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a related field, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
  • Approximately 7 years of total professional experience, including 3–5 years of underwriting, credit, or loan origination experience, preferably within banking or investment banking.
  • Thorough working knowledge of SBA SOP 50-10-8 and other applicable SBA Standard Operating Procedures and program guidelines.
  • Strong understanding of SBA lending, credit analysis, loan structuring, eligibility requirements, and government-guaranteed lending practices.
  • Familiarity with banking and lending platforms such as B2B, CCAS, nCino, AFS, appraisal systems, and loan-document preparation systems such as CLAS/LaserPro, or comparable vendor technologies.
  • Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and web-based applications; advanced Excel capabilities are a plus.
  • Excellent analytical and financial modeling skills, with sound credit judgment and strong attention to detail.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex credit considerations clearly to diverse stakeholders.
  • Highly organized and capable of managing multiple detailed transactions, deadlines, and processes concurrently.
  • Strong collaboration skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across sales, credit, legal, operations, and other functions.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment, identify and escalate risks, and consistently operate within established policies and risk appetites.
  • Demonstrated ability or interest in mentoring and developing less-experienced underwriting and credit professionals.

  Benefits:

  • Annual base salary range of $82,100–$172,500 USD, depending on relevant experience, skills, education, and geographic location.
  • Eligibility for incentive compensation based on organizational, business-line, and/or individual performance.
  • Comprehensive benefits designed to support physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being.
  • Broad employee and family benefits programs supporting diverse individual and family needs.
  • Virtual/remote work arrangement within the United States.
  • Opportunity to work in a senior SBA credit role with significant exposure to complex lending transactions.
  • Opportunities to mentor colleagues and contribute to training, education, and process improvement.
  • Inclusive work environment committed to equal employment opportunity.
  • Career development opportunities within a large financial-services organization.